Oldest remaining building in Oranjestad, built in 1796 for coast line protection. The Fort Zoutman Historical Museum is where many of our guests get their first exposures to Aruba’s past. Each Tuesday night everyone is invited to Fort Zoutman for our island’s Welcome Party or as we call it, the Bon Bini Festival from 6:30 – 8:30 pm, celebrating the island’s culture and history.

The fort, named after Dutch Rear Admiral Johan Arnold Zoutman who never stepped foot on Aruba but defeated the English in the North Sea, was completed in 1798 after a 2-year construction process. The Willem III Tower next to the fort, marking its original entrance, was built in 1868 and served as both a lighthouse and public clock tower. After 95 years, the light in the tower was extinguished in 1963. Inside the courtyard a replica-kitchen shows how cooking was done in Aruba’s yesteryears.